Obituary: Phyllis Gershon Arnold
Phyllis Gershon Arnold, a beloved wife, sister, aunt, mother and grandmother passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on March 31, 2025.
Phyllis Gershon Arnold, a beloved wife, sister, aunt, mother and grandmother passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on March 31, 2025. She was born on Oct. 27, 1934, in Carrollton, Ga., the youngest child of Sam and Jeanette Gershon. She spent much of her childhood in Carrollton until the family eventually relocated to Atlanta, where they were lifelong members of Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Judaism was always an important part of her identity.
In 1962, Phyllis married the love of her life, Joseph Allan Arnold, and together they built a family filled with love, laughter and stories. Raising five children, she dedicated herself not only to their care but to passing down the wisdom and memories of earlier generations. She had a gift for storytelling — collecting the experiences of others, devouring books and sharing the stories of her own life with children and grandchildren, ensuring that no history was lost.
In her 70s, Phyllis faced ovarian cancer with resilience, grace and dignity, miraculously beating it with the same quiet strength that guided her through life. Even as dementia took pieces of her memory, she remained the heart and soul of our family, leading us with love long after the words became harder to find. She was the glue and established bonds that will survive even though she is gone.
She leaves behind a family who cherishes her memory, her stories and the lessons she taught us. Her love endures in every tale we tell and in every moment we share, keeping her spirit vibrant in the lives she touched. She is predeceased by her parents, Sam and Jeanette Gershon, and her siblings, Elinor Gershon Smith (Al Smith), Herbert Gershon (Evelyn) and David Beeber. She is survived by her sister, Elaine Beeber. Survivors also include her beloved husband, Dr. Joseph Arnold, her children, Leslie Hammond (Richard); Kim Massell (Joanna Stamatiades); Beth Arnold Helmey; Mark Arnold (Julie) and Dan Arnold (Debbie). She is cherished by her grandchildren: Dustin Hammond, Jacob Hammond, Maya Baumeister, Sam Helmey, Hannah Helmey, Jack Arnold, Eva Arnold, Emily Arnold and Lila Arnold.
We express our sincere gratitude to her caregivers, Comar, Eda and Laree. They treated her with dignity, compassion and loving kindness.
Her story does not end here — it lives on in all of us.
Funeral services were held at Ahavath Achim Synagogue (600 Peachtree Battle Avenue, NW) on Thursday, April 3, at 1 p.m., followed by burial at Greenwood Cemetery (1173 Cascade Circle, SW). Donations in Phyllis’ memory may be made to an organization that does meaningful work to make the world a better place and to ensure that a culture of art, music, literature, and theatre are alive and vibrant for generations to come.
comments